Mitra Elena Eskandari-Luick (1964-2018)

BOSTON – Mitra Elena Eskandari-Luick, 53, of New Sharon, passed away Tuesday at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston surrounded by her family.

She was born Aug. 21, 1964, in San Leandro, CA, a daughter of Yahya Alex and Elsie Marie (Correro) Eskandari. She graduated from the University of California at Davis with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and went on to receive her MBA from the University of Hawaii.

On July 23, 1988, she married Max J. Luick in the Oakland-Berkeley Hills at the Claremont Hotel. They shared their 30th wedding anniversary this year. In 1967, Mitra’s young family emigrated to her father’s homeland. Mitra spent 12 years of her life in Tehran, Iran, her father working as a civil engineer for a large international company. She and her beloved brother Davoud spent their days with a very large, loving extended family and friends, going on ski trips and running through pomegranate orchards in the provinces.

The family moved back to California in late 1978 where Mitra attended Skyline High school in Oakland, California. There she met some of her life-long friends, in addition to those whom she would go on to meet at Davis, including her husband Max. Her daughters, Shireen and Roshan, were born in Hawaii. In 1999, they moved back to California, to be closer to Mitra’s family.

In 2003 the family packed up their home and six cats and made the road trip across the country to Maine for a new lifestyle that included learning how to farm from her mother-in-law Joann. In Maine, Mitra discovered a new passion and devoted herself to fostering her small family farm, and being an active member of both the local Farmington Farmers’ Markets. She loved spending her early mornings with daughter Roshan, milking their beloved cow, Nellie. Watching the chickens peck and scratch from the kitchen window, washing her beautiful rainbow eggs, and laughing with friends at the market were just some of the little things that she loved about living in Maine.

Mitra was a fierce friend, and an incredible storyteller, just like her father. A kind, caring soul who truly listened to what you had to say, making lasting friendships anywhere she went. She was an amazing mother who helped both daughters become the young women they are now, and a best friend to her dear husband Max. She is survived by both her daughters, Shireen and Roshan, and husband Max of New Sharon, her mother Marie, and brother Davoud of Oakland, California, as well as many family members both here and abroad.

The family will have a private memorial service followed by a memorial visitation open to the public with refreshments on Saturday, Aug. 18 from 11-1 p.m. at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington. The family suggests that for those who desire to give memorial gifts in her memory, donate to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO box849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 or Brigham and Women's Hospital Housing Fund, 48 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115. Private interment will be at the New Sharon Village Cemetery.

Condolences and memories may be shared as well as a memorial video tribute on her memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.

Much love sent to all of Mitra’s family. I personally never had the honor of meting her, but knew what a wonderful person she was from the stories Davoud told. I am so sorry for this huge loss and know Mitra’s presence will be kept alive inside of all those she loved.

Our hearts go out to Mitra's family. She is free now. God just gained a very special angel. She is at peace after a long, valiant fight. She was a hero to all who knew her and even to those who never met her but knew of her. We had the pleasure of meeting her once but knew of her life and story through her dedicated mom, Marie. Mitra was the daughter we all wish we had as was their relationship as well as that with her husband, daughters brother and the rest of her family and friends. She was a bright star in this world. She will be deeply missed.

Mitra was such a warm and friendly individual. Knowing her mom, I'm not surprised but the very first time that my wife and I met her was in Hawaii, where she used to live. My wife couldn't believe that I hadn't met Mitra before, as she was very sociable and likable!

Later on when we had our own baby daughter, searching for a good name, Marie suggested "Mitra, the Goddess of "goodness and friendship" and we obliged. Indeed she was "good and friendly"...

When her father passed, even though she was going through her treatments, but kept a positive outlook and spoke of fun and funny memories of her dad. She was a pleasure to be around, very casual, approachable and in my words "Lunch-able"...

May God bless her souls and help her husband, their two girls and the entire family to cope with this grave loss! On behalf of my wife and my family, I offer our sincere condolences!

I had the greatest bounty of meeting Mitra soon after we moved to Farmington. She and I had a Persian connection and shared love of Naw- Rúz, Persian customs and Persian food. She helped me learn to write a few words in Farsi. Mostly we shared the love of our children. She took incredible care of her family.

Her love for animals included a unique nurturing method of playing opera on the radio for her cows in the barn on Saturday afternoon. She took joy in the Farmer’s Market, school, community, friends. And teenagers. Teenagers were drawn to Mitra whether from her daughters’ circle of friends or as a substitute teacher at the high school. She had a beauty, an influence unlike anyone else.

Mitra was a brilliant star and continues to be for me from where she is now. God bless you Mitra joon (dear). Thank you for blessing my life and my children with your warm and loving friendship, great conversations, your chicken soup/stock when I was sick and incredible knowledge about so many things. I learned so much from you. My deepest condolences to your dear husband, daughters, mother and brother, extended family and other friends.

I am so sorry to hear about Mitra's death. Here is my favorite Baha'i quote on life after death.

“To consider that after the death of the body the spirit perishes,is like imagining that a bird in a cage will be destroyed if the cage is broken, though the bird has nothing to fear from the destruction of the cage. Our body is like the cage, and the spirit is like the bird…if the cage becomes broken, the bird will continue and exist. Its feelings will be even more powerful, its perceptions greater, and its happiness increased…”